Clermont must be 'squeaky clean'

Clermont Auvergne must be "squeaky clean" if they are to avoid the damage the boot of Toulon's ace marksman Jonny Wilkinson can do in the European Cup Final on Saturday.

Clermont Auvergne must be "squeaky clean" if they are to avoid the damage the boot of Toulon's ace marksman Jonny Wilkinson can do in the European Cup Final on Saturday.

The all-French final sees the leading two clubs from the Top 14 go head-to-head with Wales and British and Irish Lions fullback Lee Byrne signaling out Wilkinson as the Toulon dangerman.

"We can't give away penalties in our half because it is almost guaranteed to be three points," said Clermont's Byrne. "We will have to be squeaky clean.

"However, Toulon are full of international players so it is going to be difficult. We've played them twice this season, we beat them the first time game at home and drew the second one away," he added.

Byrne is expecting a passionate encounter this weekend as both teams go flat out in search of European glory.

"You hear stories that the French title is more important but everybody wants the European Cup just as much.

"It's massive, especially after losing last year in the semis. We sat down as a group and it surprised me how much the French boys want to win Europe. We want to be the best team in Europe not just in France," he explained.

On the individual front Byrne is aiming to become only the ninth Welshman to win the European Cup.

"It's not many Welshman who have managed that," said Byrne. "It would be nice to get into that prestigious club but we'll have to wait and see.

"It is difficult for a Welsh region to win in Europe. The main thing is having strong squads and in Wales maybe the depth is not there," he said.